Evidence that we love pets more than people

I was recently at Walmart – please don’t judge me; it was an emergency – and i overheard a woman asking a worker: “Is this the healthiest dog food? I only want the best for my smooshy.” It made me feel good to hear someone care so much about their dog, but a little while later i saw her waddle her way into McDonalds.  All I could think was: “Your dog eats healthier than you.”  As I continued to judge her, I paid for my chocolate bar – that was the emergency – and I left the store thinking – yes, I’m aware this is an unusual activity to do in and around Walmart.

It was at this time I remembered being told by my vet – not my vet, but my cat’s – that it is considered animal abuse to overfeed your pets.  My cat was two pounds overweight and I was scolded for allowing such a thing.  Um, have you seen people?  Most people aren’t two pounds overweight, but two rolls overweight. Why is it wrong to overfeed our pets and yet fine to endulge in our gluttonous desires, and to encourage loved ones to please have another piece of butt jiggle causing cake, or chin doubling pie?  If we really loved our spouses wouldn’t we be saying “please have another round of push ups saggy gut”?

Ultimately, many of us are worried about making the people we care about happy in the immediate moment, but we need to start considering the future.  We do this for our pets, so it’s time we start doing this for ourselves and the people we love.  The future is not far away… and neither is an extra chin.